Expansible collapsible element



Nov. 10,1925. 1,561,065

L. W. EGGLESTON EXPANS I BLE COLLAPS IBLE ELEMENT Filed Aug. 8. 1923949-: 7,

Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

LEWIS W. EGGLES'I'ON, OI BUFFALO, NEW YORIQASSIGNOB T0 AMERICANBADIA'IOI COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

EZPANSIBLE COLLAPSIBLE ELEMENT.

Application filed August 8, 1928. Serial No. 656,446,

To all whom it'may concern:

, Be it known that I, Lnwrs W. EGGLESTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in ExpansibleCollapsible Elements, of which the following is a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawin s, forming a part of this specification.

lily invention relates to new and useful improvements inexpansible-collapsible elements of that general character or typeadapted to be su jected to pressure or thermostatic conditions for thepurpose of operating a desired device or mechanism, which elementconsists of an annular or tubular shell of thin metal formed withcircumferential corrugations comprising inner and outer bends joined byintermediate wall.

portions extending in a general direction transversely of the element.

It is sometimes found that elements of the character mentioned arerendered in active or inoperative, due to the fact that the metal of thebends of the corrugations is, through continuous use, or from beingsubjected to excessive ressures, fatigued to a point destroying t eresilience of the bends, and resulting in permanent collapse of theelement at one or more points, thus reducing its useful life.

One object of the present invention is to obviate the objectionableresult just stated, by oviding means for preventing collapse of Si ebends to such an extent as to result in destruction or reduction of theresilience of the element.

.A further object is to provide such anelement with means for limitingthe col-- lapsing movement thereof so as to prevent the same from beingcollapsed beyond .a point which would subject the metal to deleteriousstrain, and finally result in permanent collapse, but which at the sametime would permit the element to have the desired extent of freemovement for which it is designed.

A further object is to provide resilient reenforcing means, which willnot only prevent fatigue of the metal of the bends, but will alsooperate to maintain the annular contour of the element.

lindric'al flange portion 4,

Other objects andthe attending advantages will be apparent from thedescription to follow hereafter. I

The invention consists in the improvements to be more fully describedhereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed.

invention in the accom anying drawings to be taken as a part of thisspecification, and

wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through .a structureembodying my inven- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, s ow I havefully and clearly illustrated my.

ing another embodiment of the same invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing aortion of the wall of the embodiment of t e invention illustrated inFig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view'of a preferred form-of an element employedin each of the previous figures.

- Referring .to the drawings by characters of reference, A designates apreferred form 4 of an expansible-collapsible element consisting atubular metal shell 1, substantially cylindrical in general contour.This shell 1 may be, and preferably is, closed at one end by an inte a1head 2, preferably in the form of a oss consisti-n of a transverse Wallmember 3 having a clrcumferential cyjoining at its edge with ,thecylindrical shell 1 of the element. At its opposite end the element isprovided with 9. Ion itudinal, cylindrical extension or flange 5, ywhich the element is adapted to be secured or' attached to any suit ableelement or support (not shown). The head 2, heretofore mentioned, ispreferably of thicker metal than that composing the cylindrical shell 1,and the annular portion 4 tapers into the metal of the shell, asindicated at 6. The element, in its preferred form, is composed ofsuitable metal or alloy, for example, copper, or alloy of copper andzinc, WhlCh, in its preferred embodiment, drawn by suitable diemechanism to a thickness ap roximately .007 of an inch. The body 0 theelement, or the shell portion 1,, is. rovided withcircumferentialcorrugations, by which the element is.

diameter, the inside dimension or diameter of theelementmay beapproximately 1.72

inches, and the depth of the corrugation .344; inches, the bends of thecorrugations being curved and struckon a radius of approximately .045inches.

While I how and describe a specific form of corrugatedexpansible-collapsible element as beingone to'which my invention isreadily applicable, I wish it understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, the same being shown and described only for the purposeof disclosing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

The element above described is adapted to be subjected to eitherinternal or external pressure, and is either collapsed or expanded, asthe case may be, to actuate a, desired device or mechanism, and it willbe. understood that the corrugations are so spaced that they will havethe necessary resilienceto ensure the element having the desired extentof movement when actuated, the resilience of the metal in the bends 8and 9 of the corrugations acting to return theelement to a normalposition or condition of rest.

According to m present invention, I provide means where y the element isprevented from being collapsed to a point beyond the normal limits ofresilience of the corrugations, thereby preventing continued use orexcessive pressures from. fatiguing the metal to a point whereby theresilience is destroyed or weakened, or the corrugations permanentlycollapsed, so' as to interfere with the free or sensitive functioning ofthe element. 1

In the preferred embodiment, this means consists of an annular member 11arranged in the bend of a corrugation and maintained incontact with thecentral portion of the bend, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. This member 11 preferably consists of an annulus or ring whichis substantially circular in cross-section, and of .a body diameter lessthan the transverse width of the bend of the corrugation, so thatclearance spaces 12 are provided between the opposite sides of the facesof the ring and the inner faces of the. side portions of ence of thebenthereby 'preventing excessive collapse of the corrugation, and,consequently, of the expansible-collapsible element, and also preventingfatigue of the metal in the bend of the corrugation. It

- will be understood that the thickness of the member 11' willbedetermined and proportioned in accordance with the internal diameter ofthe bend of the corrugation to which it is to be applied. Forexample, inan ele- 'of'the ring is preferably circular in crosssection, and isformed on a radius of approximately 40 inches, thereby providing 'a ringof a diameter approximately .080

inches.

The member 11 may be of any suitable material which will have thecapability of resisting or limiting thecollapsing movement of the bendof the corrugation, but is preferably of a suitable metal, and in thepreferred embodiment said member is in the form of a resilientsplit-ring, as indicated in Fig. 6, whereby the member not only servesto perform the function heretofore described, but also exerts its forceexpansively, whereby said member is held in positive and proper relationagainst the inner face of the bend of the corrugation. It is understoodthat this applies to the ring or member when inserted in the outwardbend of a corrugation. In applying the reenforcing element in itspreferred form, the said ring is collapsed or sprung inward by anysuitable means (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6) against itsnatural resilience, until it is of a size which will permit itsinsertion in the open end of the *expansible-collapsible element, andsaid ring is then located opposite the entrance to the'corrugation inwhich it is to be located, and is released, whereupon it springs outwardtoward its normal position and automatically seats itself within thecorrugation. and against the inner face ofthe bend, as will be clearfrom Figs.

In Fig. 4 the invention is shown applied to the inward bends, of thecorrugations, as well-as the outward bends, and in this form the annularmember -11 exerts its spring action inward instead of outward, asheretofore described. When the ring is to be applied tothe innercorrugation, the ring is expanded or opened and passed around theelement and located oppositev the corrugation to which it is to beapplied, whereupon it is released, and upon contraction seats itselfwithin the bend of the corrugation, as shown in- 4 and 5. When the reenforcin g memberis in theform of a split-ring, it 1s preferable to havethe ends thereof come as Q close together as practicable when the ring 6is in position in the bend of the corrugation.

10 other, but the curve portions of the bends will not be flexed orbent-to such an extent as to exceed the lir'nit of resilience and becomepermanently collapsed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis: 1

1. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure andthermostaticpurposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell havingcircumferential corrugations formed of resilient inward and outwardbends connected by intermediate transverse wall ortions, and meanslocated in certain of said bends to prevent colla se thereof in adirection longitudinally o the shell, said means comprising an annularmember arranged in engagement with the inner face of the bend, saidmember being of such thickness in a direction lengthwise of said elementas to provide clearance spaces between the said memher and the lateralportions of the bend but adapted to be engaged by said lateral portionswithin the limit of resilience of the metal of the bend.

2. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic.purposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferentialcorrugations formed of resilient inward and outward bends connected byintermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain ofsaid bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally ofthe shell, said means comprisging an annular member arranged inengagement with the middle portion of the inner surface of the bend,said member being circu lar in cross-section and of such thicknesslengthwise of the element as to provide clearance spaces between thesaid member and the lateral portions of the bend but adapted to beengaged by said lateral portions within the limit ofresilience of themetal of the bend.

3. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostaticpurposes, comprising a tubular metal wall having circumfercntialcorrugations formed of resilient inward and outward bends joined byintermediate wall portions, and a reenforcing member located in certainof said outward bends and in contact with the inner surface thereof,saidmember being of such thickness in a direction lengthwise of saidelement that the said intermediate walls are free to move within theelastic limits of said bends but are prevented from being moved towardinner face of the bend and being circular in cross-section, the radiusof the curve of the bend bearing the proportion to the radius of thecross-section of said member of approximately .045 inches to .040inches.

5. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostaticpurposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferentialcorrugations formed ofresilient inward and outward bends connected byintermediate transverse wall portions, and

means located in certain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in adirection longitudinally of the shell, said means compr1s-- ing anannular member engaging the inner face of the bend and being circular incrosssection, the radius of the curve of the bend being greater than theradius of the crosssection of said member.

6. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostaticpurposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential.corrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected byintermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain ofsaid bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally ofthe shell, said means comprising .an annular member engaging the innerface of a bend, said member being resilient in a direction transverselyof the element. 7. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure andthermostatic purposes, comprising a tubular metallic shell havingcircumferential corrugations formed of inward and outward bendsconnected by intermediate transverse wall portions, and means located incertain of said bends to prevent collapse thereof in a directionlongitudinally of the shell, said means comprising an annular memberengaging the inner face of a bend, said member being resilient in adirection transversely of the element and exerting its .force to hold itin position in engagement withthe inner face of the bend. 8. Anexpansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostatic purposes,comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferential corrugationsformed of inward and outward bends connected by intermediate transversewall portions, and means located in certain of said bendsto preventcollapse thereof in a direction longitudinally of the shell, said'meanscomprising a resilient split-rin held by its resilience in engagementwit 1 the inner face of the bend.

9. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostaticpurposes, cornprising a tubular metallic shell having 011'- cumferentialcorrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected byintermediate transverse wall portions, and means located in certain ofsaid bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally ofthe shell, said means comprising a resilient split-ring held by itsresilience in engagement with the middle portion of the inner surface ofthe bend.

10. An expansible-collapsible element for pressure and thermostaticpurposes. comprising a tubular metallic shell having circumferentialcorrugations formed of inward and outward bends connected byintermediate transverse wall portions and means located" in certain ofsaid bends to prevent collapse thereof in a direction longitudinally ofthe shell, said means comprising a. resilient split-ring held by itsresilience in engagement with the middle portion of the inner surface ofthe bend, and said ring being of such thickness lengthwise of theelement as to provide clearance spaces between the said ring and thelateral portions of the bends. V

In testimony whereof have hereunto subscribed myname.

LEWIS W. EGGL'ESTON.

